WHITE BEACH NAVAL FACILITY, Okinawa, Japan – Amphibious transport dock ship USS Denver (LPD 9), with the embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), arrived in White Beach, Okinawa, Japan Sept. 21 to conduct an offload of the 31st MEU.
Denver’s arrival comes on the heels of three successful exercises conducted by the Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group and 31st MEU team; Exercise Koolendong, the 31st MEU’s certification exercise (CERTEX), and Talisman Saber 2013.
The stop in White Beach will be a working-port visit for the crew as they aid in the safe and efficient offload of elements of the 31st MEU.
"We are here to offload the MEU and their equipment before we head out and continue our patrol," said Lt. John R. Mateikat, Denver’s operations officer. “That is our mission here.”
Denver is on patrol with the Bonhomme Richard ARG, commanded by Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 11, and is currently conducting routine joint-force operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet Area of Responsibility.